Rail Network Bill

Last updated on 5/06/2009 3:15 p.m. 

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The Minister of Transport introduced the Rail Network Bill on 15 March 2005. The Bill is an administrative bill and establishes the long-term structure of the New Zealand Railways Corporation (ONTRACK) which owns and operates the national rail network on behalf of the Crown.

The Bill repeals ONTRACK's existing legislation (the New Zealand Railways Corporation Act 1981 and the New Zealand Railways Corporation Restructuring Act 1990), carrying over provisions that are still needed, updating them as necessary.

The main features of the Bill are:

  1. ONTRACK is provided with a new objective and functions and some principles as to how it must perform its functions.
  2. ONTRACK's objective is aligned with the New Zealand Transport Strategy, without compromising its commercial focus.
  3. ONTRACK is changed from a State owned enterprise to a Crown entity, and will be subject to the relevant provisions of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
  4. All the existing provisions relating to ONTRACK's ability to acquire, hold and dispose of rail network land are carried over. These provisions are needed to enable rail network land to be retained for future rail use.

 


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View the Rail Network Bill as reported by the Govt Administration select committee here.